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The Backline
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Description
Canadian Comedy Award winners Rob Norman and Adam Cawley discuss weekly improv-based topics based on a theme.
180 Episodes
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In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss DEAFO - a new system for creating more dynamic, intersting stage pictures. Also on this episode, heightening through proximity, and intentionally throwing your scene off-kilter.
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Amongst the many terms improvisers have invented to describe a bad scene, "Crazytown" might be the most evocative. This week Rob and Adam discuss scenes that try to do too much, too soon - and how to prevent your scenes from going off the rails.
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Rob and Adam discuss what to do when a scene fails, how to fail gracefully, and how to get a struggling scene back on track. Also on the episode: recent travels across the US, Rob's artistic residency in Sweden, the best pizza and an adult love of trains.
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In this epsiode, Rob and Adam discuss what to do if you are obligated to create the who, what, where in the first 30 seconds of your scene. How much information should you add? How much room should you leave for you partner to contribute?
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This week Rob and Adam chat about improv festivals: how to run it, how to market it, and the small perks that make it all worthwhile.
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We all know the Harold, and The Montage - but what's in the in-between? Are there some formats better for new players than others?
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In the final rundown of 2023, Rob and Adam share the gifts of what's making them feel thankful this holiday season.
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Improv dogma tells us, "Mistakes are a gift" but are they always ... Certainly, there are miskakes you can make that derail, confuse, or even ruin a scene. So are there some moves that are better than others?
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Not making a team can be frustrating. Not being hired by your local troupe or theatre can be heartbreaking, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave your improv journey in the hands of those theatres.
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This week Rob and Adam discuss team bonding, alternatives to rehearsals, and if you can get better at improv by just being friends with your team. Also, an important letter from THE BACKLINE MAILBAG, featuring John from Wisconsin.
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This week we open up The Backline Mailbag and answer your questions about the longform format The Deconstruction. Also discussed: Future Favors the Bold, types of longform openers, 2-person improv, Cubism, and so much more.
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This week, Rob and Adam open up the Backline Mailbag to answer your questions. In this episode, you'll learn about object work and why it's neccessary, building constructs from character, and why physicality can be so hard for new improvisers.
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We've all heard the expression "Support your partner", in this episode Rob and Adam discuss support, agitation, heightening through proximity, and dynamics. PLUS Martin Short, comedy criticism, 2000 AD and Jeopardy.
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Adam and Rob return for a new season of The Backline! This week Rob and Adam chat about beginning scenes, deals, the moment before, Johnstonian platforms, UCB initations, and so much more.
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For the final episode of the season, Rob and Adam discuss ending scenes from within the scenes, how to pull edits, and what a satisfying ending might look like.
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Warm-ups are an essential part of any show or class. This week, Rob and Adam discuss types of warm-ups, why we do them, and what it means to warm-up before a show.
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What does it mean to go first in an improv show? How does it affect the way you play? This week Rob and Adam are back to discuss cold rooms, running orders, and the selfless act of going first
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This week, Rob and Adam discuss the shortcuts improvisers use to make a scene work and how true creativity might be the cost of using these shortcuts.
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In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss feeling like you don't belong, ego trips, and knowing your own worth.
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This week Rob and Adam discuss how to create characters, why space is necessary to find a character's point of view, and the instant invocation known as the Mantra.
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Nice episode. i can definitely use it.